Snow Australia Community Sport Awards

The snow sport community came together tonight to honour young athletes, volunteers, clubs, schools and development coaches from around the country at the inaugural Snow Australia Community Sport Awards, held at QT Canberra.

Designed to recognise athletes, coaches, volunteers, clubs, schools, resorts, administrators and programs at the development and pathway level of snow sports, the Awards also importantly recognised the significant service of those who continue to give back to the sport. 

Snow Australia CEO Michael Kennedy said that the quality of all award recipients on the night was a true testament to the growing snow sports community.

“Tonight we celebrated those across the Australian Snow sport community who give so much at a grassroots level to make our sport one of the most popular in Australia ,” Kennedy said.

“We not only had the opportunity to celebrate great emerging talent, but also recognise the significant contribution of clubs, coaches and officials.  

“Last year our organisation made the significant step to unify and now under our new brand of Snow Australia, we want to truly connect to more people through our sport.  Our snow sport community is made up of passionate individuals and clubs who are at the forefront of our work in the pathway and tonight was our opportunity to say thank you to them,” he said.  

There were plenty of awards recognised throughout the evening, with recipients including Leslie Ludwig who took out the prestigious Service to Snowsport award, for her extensive contribution over more than 40 years. 

The Thredbo Ski Racing Club was awarded Club of the Year, for their commitment to encouraging and supporting participation in Snowsports and their work done to align themselves with the recommendations from the Snow Australia Alpine review.

Hamish Cox was also among the night’s winners, taking home the Club Coach of the Year. 

Jack Adams won the  Young Achiever of the Year, recognised for his contribution back to the Alpine community along with balancing his university studies while competing overseas for six months of the year.

Snow Australia was proud to recognise six Emerging Talent Athlete awards in Mia Clift (Snowboard Cross), Zoe Michael (Alpine), Zana Evans (Cross Country), Joey Elliss (Park and Pipe Ski), Chelsee Kelley (Park and Pipe Snowboard) and George Murphy (Moguls).

Other noteworthy awards included the Pathway Initiative Award, presented to NSW Freestyle Talent Identification Program and Official of the Year which was awarded to Freestyle judge Paul Livissianos.

2019 Award Winners 

Service to Snowsport: Leslie Ludwig

Starting in the sport in the 1980’s, Leslie was a founding member of the NSW Cross Country Committee. Holding numerous positions at a local, State and National level, Leslie was also recognised for of her service with a life membership of NSW Snowsports. Today she is a current member of SSA Northern Management Committee and was instrumental in the Nordic Shelter’s extension.  In her current roles and over the years she has worked tirelessly to secure funding for the sport through grant applications,and as working across finance and fundraising initiatives. 

Club of the Year: Thredbo Ski Racing Club

Thredbo Ski Racing Club (TSRC) contributes to the lifelong love and participation in snow sports of its current and past members. The Club priorities are on skill development and progression of its athletes, time on snow, academic support, commitment to training and mentoring of the younger athletes from the older athletes. TSRC has been committed to aligning with the National strategy to deliver on the key objectives set out in the Performance Pathway Framework, providing a best practice environment to enable athlete’s the opportunity to maximise their long-term development. The club has a track record of producing performance athletes, including 12 Winter Olympians.  At the SSA Children’s Alpine Championships this year, TSRC athletes won three out of four overall champions awards. Four members of the current National Alpine Team are TSRC alumni.

Club Coach of the Year: Hamish Cox

Hamish is Head Coach of the Team Buller Riders (TBR) program. Hamish coaches the TBR elite performance mogul group, all TBR club athletes at the SSA Water Jump Facility and leads the SSA Futures Acrobatic Sessions in Melbourne. Hamish is dedicated to coaching and his sport, is caring, considerate and hardworking. He is known to go the extra mile to improve his coaching skills, by learning yoga functional testing and screenings, along with shadowing elite coaches. Hamish encourages young athletes to move into the performance group through extra nurturing and teaching important fundamental skills before athletes can perform difficult tricks on snow.

Young Achiever of the Year: Jack Adams

This year, Jack was active within the community, providing advice, support and mentoring to young athletes and families on balancing academic and sporting ambitions post school and into tertiary education and the pathway of an alpine skier from grass roots level to an international level, through his work as an Interschools Snowsports Alpine Ambassador. Jack is completing full time university studies whilst spending 6 months overseas each year for his sport. Jack is currently ranked 2nd in Australia on a 2 discipline FIS point average (Slalom & GS).

Pathway Initiative Award: NSW Freestyle Talent Identification Program (TIP)

The TIP program has been designed and developed by NSW Freestyle to encourage further participation by identified Interschools athletes into the sport pathway through a fun, informative and inspiring program for the entire family. The program introduces new athletes to the sport and recruits for the future. During Interschools events, athletes who perform well in Division 4 are invited to attend the NSW Junior Series. At the event, the athletes and their parents are met by Peter Topalovic and NSWIS athletes who explain aspects of the event and the sport beyond Interschools. NSW Freestyle employ additional coaches to work with the TIP athletes throughout the weekend and most importantly, the NSWIS athletes are allocated to provide inspiration and encouragement and to ensure that maximum inspiration is provided. Vast improvement is noticed with the athletes over the weekend as they are introduced to FTEM based coaching and recommendations are made on where the athletes require further development. The program typically involves 15-20 athletes each year, with 5-10 athletes signing up with a club program in the following year, along with other training such as water ramp and acrobatics. Many previous participants have gone on to become high level mogul skiers of the future.  

Official of the Year: Paul Livissianos

Paul is an FIS Level A Freestyle Mogul Judge and Level B Freestyle Aerial Judge who is known for his work at World Cup Mogul events, the ANC Freestyle Mogul Championships, ABOM and the NSW Junior Series. Additionally, Paul spends his time volunteering within the Freestyle Mogul community by delivering Mogul Judging clinics to up skill new and experience judges, instructors and coaches, organising judging panels at NSW competitions, management of mentoring programs, instigating and networking with international judges to be a part of the Australian National Mogul Judging Panel and coordinating younger less experienced judges. Paul has recently been named as a judge at the 2021 Freestyle World Championships and 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

Outstanding School Achievement of the Year: The Scots School Albury

The Scots School Albury snow sports program is designed to engage students, increase participation, enjoyment and support of those at the performance level. A total of 190 students (45% of the school population) attended one or more snow sports program experiences this year. Little Shredders is offered as an entry level snow sports experience for students in Kindergarten to Year 2. For the more experienced and secondary school students, there are on snow days across the year for all levels of ability. A team is fielded for the Interschools Championships, where training is offered on specific race techniques. The Snowsports program is part of the whole school approach to sport via the Fundamental, Skill Acquisition, Performance and Elite phases.

Snowsports School of the Year: Snowy Mountains Grammar School

The Snowsports Program at SMGS is a multi-faceted program designed to provide students of all ages and ability with opportunities to participate across a diverse range of snowsports disciplines, programs, and competitions whilst promoting a well-balanced lifestyle. The program objective ensures students can strive for sporting success without compromising their education. Safety and dryland training are important elements of the school program. 96% of all students in Term 3 were involved in snow sports, either through the regular school full-day program or Interschools participation. This year, the school entered a record 129 Regional Teams, 125 State Teams and 106 National Teams. SMGS has a track record of supporting students that have gone onto being performance athletes, including four Olympians and multiple World Cup athletes, along with various OWIA, NSWIS, ETP and SESA scholarship holders.

Spirit of Interschools Award: Maysen Duffy

Maysen has been involved for 11 years and competes in all disciplines at Interschools in cross country, alpine and snowboard events with high performing results. However, Maysen’s success has never once changed her attitude towards others participating in the Interschools events.. Even before becoming the schools Snow Sports captain Maysen has been actively encouraging students to join the snow sports team, speaking in front of all school assemblies expressing the enjoyment and sense of belonging that Interschools brings. Maysen has single handily been responsible for improved numbers involved in the team. When not competing Maysen makes herself available to younger participants for support, race tips, advice, helping to build the sense of team. Maysen has been awarded Triple Colours for Snowsports at Caulfield, all of which has been received with great humility, proving that she is a great ambassador for the sport.

Emerging Talent Athlete Awards

1. Mia Clift – Snowboard Cross
2. Zoe Michael – Alpine
3. Zana Evans – Cross Country
4. Joey Elliss - Park & Pipe Ski 
5. Chelsee Kelley- Park & Pipe Snowboard
6. George Murphy – Moguls